Voices For Life

Voices for Life is an e-publication dedicated to informing and educating the public on pro-life and pro-family issues. We cover issues from conception until natural death, as well as all family life issues.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

These Catholic Colleges Violate Church Teachings With Pro-Abortion Commencement Speakers

By Steven Ertelt Life News

A pro-life organziation that serves as a watchdog for Catholic colleges and universities has published a list of Catholic educational institutions that are violating the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church by having pro-abortion commencement speakers.

“Research conducted by The Cardinal Newman Society reveals that at least 10 Catholic colleges will be honoring individuals at their 2016 commencement ceremonies who have publicly opposed Church teaching in their statements and actions,” the group says. “By honoring those who disregard Catholic teaching, and holding them up as role models for students, administrators at these Catholic colleges send a dangerous message to students, betray the religious mission of their institutions and disregard the guidance of the U.S. bishops.”

“Families who choose a Catholic education deserve much better than this,” said Patrick Reilly, president of The Cardinal Newman Society. “By passing over the opportunity to present good role models for students — people who embrace not only a call to leadership but God’s call to virtue and faith — a Catholic college falsely honors those who oppose moral truths and dishonors its graduating students.”

The nation’s Catholic bishops have made it very clear that Catholic colleges and universities should not give a platform to abortion advocates.

In 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released “Catholics in Political Life,” which requires Catholic institutions to withhold honors and platforms from public opponents of Church teaching — and a commencement address certainly is both a prominent platform and a coveted honor, especially when paired with an honorary degree. The document states in part:

The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.